Child care subsidies
Local governments can invest in this strategy using State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
- This strategy provides assistance to households that can help mitigate the economic impacts of COVID-19. The U.S. Department of Treasury has indicated that strategies that help achieve this outcome are eligible for the use of Fiscal Recovery Funds.
Investments in this strategy are SLFRF-eligible as long as they are made in qualified census tracts or are designed to assist populations or communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
Program basics
- Provide financial assistance to working parents or, in some cases, parents attending school, to cover the costs of certified in-home or center-based child care, which is often higher quality than non-family home-based care
Strength of evidence
Evidence level: Proven (highest tier)
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Proven (highest tier)
Ranked as having the highest level of evidence by County Health Rankings and Roadmaps
Target population
Low- and moderate-income adults and families
Program cost
Variable
Implementation locations
Dates active
1996-Present
Outcomes and impact
- Increased employment and earnings for low-income families
- Increased enrollment in center-based care for children from low-income households
Keys to successful implementation
- Before any program development, review federal and state statutes and subsidy funding formulas, especially the Child Care and Development Block Grant; they will likely vary dramatically across jurisdictions.
- Develop clear, simple eligibility criteria – especially around income – and share explanatory materials (ideally written in multiple languages and/or delivered verbally) with families during any recruitment activity or engagement with the program.
- Create a strong outreach plan to promote the subsidies, such as by developing a presence at child care providers (like Headstart) and human resource administration offices.
- Streamline the enrollment to the greatest degree possible, including co-locating family services and human resources administration offices, or housing a family services case worker within the human resources office.
- Provide families with detailed information on subsidy-eligible child care providers and associated costs.
- Embed flexibility into eligible child care options, giving families a greater opportunity to afford their preferred caregiver, including licensed child care centers and private providers. Consider trade-offs for subsidizing licenses providers based on workforce.
- Reevaluate participant eligibility only on an annual basis, allowing families to plan for the longer term.
